There is an old bromide in sports that a player shouldn’t lose his starting job because of injury. If the Dolphins were to adhere to that thinking, we’d be seeing Will Allen (and not Vontae Davis) lining up at right cornerback when OTAs begin next week.

Of course, that’s not likely to happen. Despite starting only 10 games last season, Davis led the team in interceptions (4), led the secondary in tackles (48) and played the kind of aggressive game the coaches wanted to see.

So where does that leave Allen, whose season was ended by a torn ACL in the late October game against New Orleans last season? Actually, it’s been less than seven months since the injury, so there’s a good chance he’s not up to full speed yet. But even if he is, he’ll turn 32 less than a week into training camp and, while certainly as smart as he ever was, the combination of that injury and age have no doubt taken a toll on his speed and quickness.

Allen told The Miami Herald earlier this year he expects to be a starting corner by the season opener, but if there’s one position at which this team appears set for years to come, that’s it, with Davis and Sean Smith just entering their second seasons.

We all know that this is a "What have you done for me lately" league, unless you're a super star at you position, which Allen was not. So I think he will be more of a nickel & back up player this year, that said he will still see the field alot, with all the different looks the D will be showing.

I hope Allen gets some solid playing time as long as he is healthy. I agree that Davis and Smith are the future but they definitely broke down at times last year. Smith also needs to improve on his tackling. Just let them play it out in camp and during preseason.

I hope Allen gets some solid playing time as long as he is healthy. I agree that Davis and Smith are the future but they definitely broke down at times last year. Smith also needs to improve on his tackling. Just let them play it out in camp and during preseason.

I think he will it's a long season, and things happen.......plus like I said we will have so many looks on D-fence that Allen "Will" see a lot of playing time, and not just clean up time ether....JMO

Allen told The Miami Herald earlier this year he expects to be a starting corner by the season opener, but if there’s one position at which this team appears set for years to come, that’s it, with Davis and Sean Smith just entering their second seasons.

The most obvious spot for Allen, of course, is nickel, a job left vacant by the free-agent departure of Nate Jones. The job embodies strong coverage skills — Jones often found himself matched up on slot guys like Wes Welker — but an ability to come off the edge and rush the passer when the situation allows it. Allen has four sacks in his four years in Miami, so that’s not foreign to him.

The other obvious consideration for Allen is free safety, where there’s no frontrunner among contenders Tyrone Culver, Chris Clemons and rookie Reshad Jones. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him get a look there, either in the veterans mini-camp later this month or early in training camp.

Clearly the club has some plans for him. If not, his crude behavior during his DWI arrest while trying to leave South Beach a couple of months ago might have been rewarded with his walking papers.

He probably won't be ready to play early in the season. We just have to wait and see how healthy he truly is. If he comes back 100%, then he will be starting right away. CB is not a position for the inexperienced in this league....unless you are a phenom. Will Allen has definitely been solid for us lately....and then the darn injury bug bit again.

_________________Philbin's countenance exudes confidence!1984 was so long ago...Will there ever be another rainbow?

In Nickel and dime sets there is no question that Allen will move into the slot.

To me, Vontae Davis is an absolute lock to start. If Sean Smith shows a little more playmaking ability, I think he has the other side covered as well as I think he has the best cover skills on the team.

Allen will be in the slot regardless, it just comes up to how much playing time he gets on base defensive sets. I brought up the possibility before last season of Will Allen moving to Free Safety if Gibril did not work out and if our two rookies panned out. I wouldn't mind him back there situationally, but not full time.

In Nickel and dime sets there is no question that Allen will move into the slot.

In your opinion. You could easily put Davis there.

Why would you put a press coverage corner in the slot over a guy like Will Allen who is both quicker and more experienced than Vontae?

The only fact you reeled off their is Allen is more experienced. I don't know why you've generalized Davis as a press coverage corner or Allen being quicker. Especially since Allen is coming off an ACL injury.